OWATONNA, Minn.��More than 1,000 Owatonna area residents have taken steps toward a healthier lifestyle with Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonnas five-week "On the Move" wellness program.
And after two weeks, residents and teams have walked more than 67.9 million steps.
"Thats outstanding," said Stephanie Olson, spokesperson for Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna. "Participation is up, and walking is up this year."
The clinic kicked off its wellness program on April 21 in partnership with Steele County Public Health, Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Owatonna Parks and Recreation, Learning Zone Express, Allina Health, Steele and Rice 911 Center, area schools and area businesses.
Since 2004, the clinic has offered a community-wide walking program to encourage area residents to exercise.
Olson said the goal for participants is to walk 10,000 steps each day, five days a week, and as a community, walk across the United States.
The clinic has calculated the number of miles and steps it would take to walk to 25 destinations in the U.S. starting and finishing in Owatonna. To complete this "Walk Across America" would mean walking 10,000 miles as a group and 20 million steps.
And the community has already surpassed that already three times.
Together the residents, businesses and organizations have walked about 68 million steps, which is more than 30,000 miles.
According to Olson, area residents have walked 6.6 million steps in two weeks, and 23 teams have reported their steps. The Owatonna School District so far has walked the most at 12.8 million steps and Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna follows with 12.5 million steps.
Other teams include the City of Owatonna, Courage Kenny Rehab, Fernbrook Family Center,
Hometown Credit Union, Jostens, KRFO, Learning Zone Express, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Public Schools, Owatonna Alternative Learning Center, Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Owatonna Peoples Press, NAPA, South Central Human Relations Center, South Country Health Alliance, Steele County Public Health, Tri M Graphics, Trinity Nursery School, US Bank Owatonna, Viracon, Wells Fargo and Wenger.
The event runs until May 22, and Olson said on that day the community will come together and celebrate.
Olson said after the first week of the wellness program in 2009, the community walked 6 million steps, and after the first week this year, the community had walked about 32.3 million steps.
"Weve definitely tripled that since we started it," she said. "I think the emphasis on healthy living, healthy eating and exercise has increased in that same time frame. "
Olson said there is no deadline to sign up to participate.
"This is a chance for people to kick off a healthy lifestyle into spring," she said. "The community has been extremely successful despite the weather weve had."
People can sign up online and pick up their materials at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems information desk. Participants can use their own pedometers or purchase one from the clinic for $10.
Pedometers allow participants to keep track of their steps, which should be reported each Monday.
Participants can report their steps by calling 507-446-5121 or emailing�
onthemove@mayo.edu.
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